Reading for Connection
Reading aloud to children—especially young children—is one of the top two things I recommend to parents who want to support their young children’s literacy development. I wrote another blog post about…
All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go: Why Reading and Imaginative Play Matter
It’s World Book Day and children in many schools in the UK and around the world are dressing up as their favourite book characters, sharing their favourite books with friends,…
Reading Corner: The Pout-Pout Fish
“Blub. Bluuub. Bluuuuuub.” These three words and everything about how they’re presented in The Pout-Pout Fish—from the spelling, the all caps, the growing font size, and of course the accompanying pictures…
Supporting the Anxious Writer
Many people tell me they or their children struggle with writing — and this struggle comes in many forms. It can mean identifying as “bad at writing”. It can mean…
Reading Corner: Dear Zoo
One of the current favourites of my almost-two-year-old, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, continues to captivate readers 38 years after it was first published! The Flaps! The story is simple, yet offers so…
Reading Corner: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen How (or wherefore) do we love this book? Let me count the ways! We love this book for the rhythm of…
“Be brave, Mama.”
“Be brave, Mama.” The little voice of my 4-year-old as he hugged me goodbye echoed in my heart as I made my way nervously down the slopes, a beginner skier…
Parent-Child Activity: Story Inspiration Board
Yes, Pinterest is all the rage, but sometimes you want to get your hands dirty (and have something fun to hang up in your child’s room). This is where (physical)…